Rahul Gandhi has spoken to family members of deceased farmers' on phone; sources say, he won't be returning without meeting the farmers in Mandsaur.

The stir has spun off a political slugfest from the initial protests that cost many farmers their lives. (Source: PTI)

Madhya Pradesh farmers protest: The stir has spun off a political slugfest from the initial protests that cost many farmers their lives. First of all was a U-turn by the state authorities. A judicial probe ordered into the deaths of agitating farmers in Madhya Pradesh states that the farmers were killed due to firing by the police. The state home minister Bhupendra Singh had finally on Thursday admitted that 5 farmers died on Tuesday in police firing. The situation in the region remains tense on the eighth day of the protest. Many farmers have resorted to arson and violence to put pressure on the government to give in to their demands. State authorities as a precautionary measure have imposed section 144 in certain areas and suspended Internet services in Mandsaur, Ratlam and Ujjain. Here is a brief look at what has happened so far:

1. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday was prevented from entering violence hit Mandsaur district. Rahul Gandhi wanted to go to Mandsaur to meet the family of the farmers who died in the police firing on Tuesday. “He (Rahul Gandhi) has been detained. What was the emergency to go there now? He only wants to do politics,” said MP HM Bhupendra Singh.

2. Rahul Gandhi, who wanted to meet the family members of the farmers killed during the Mandsaur agitation, was not allowed to enter the district. Udaipur IG told ANI that, ”Rahul Gandhi had flown to Udaipur in Rajasthan in a chartered plane, sat pillon on a motorcycle and reached the border between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh from where he started walking towards the border.” Madhya Pradesh police detained Gandhi as he crossed the border. Rahul Gandhi was later released by the authorities.

3. Rahul Gandhi has spoken to family members of deceased farmers’ on phone; sources say, he won’t be returning without meeting the farmers in Mandsaur, according to ANI. Family of deceased farmers are waiting to meet Gandhi outside premises where he’s been kept. According to ANI sources, Gandhi won’t seek bail until he is allowed to meet them.

4. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister in his reaction today said, “Always ready to resolve issues by talks & discussions. Anti social elements trying to bring instability will be strictly dealt with.” Curfew in Mandsaur will be relaxed between 4 PM and 6 PM today according to ANI. Mandsaur SP, OP Tripathi has said that a total of 62 people have been detained by the police till now. The SP also added that more people are being identified with the help of videos.

5. The BJP has responded to charges leveled by the Congress. Rural Development Minister Tomar has said that “Farmers in MP are peace loving people and don’t indulge in violent activities.” Tomar alleged that there is a conspiracy behind the entire episode.

Farmers are demanding a loan waiver and better prices for their crops had begun a ten-day long protest on June 1. The agitation turned violent on Tuesday when farmers were killed due to the police opening fire on them. The Congress took the opportunity to attack the BJP government in both the Centra and Madhya Pradesh over the farmers’ agitation. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi in a press conference said that the BJP has forgotten the promises it has made to the farmers. Singhvi said, ”BJP is acting like a curse of death for the farmers. The government is not listening to their demands. On top of that the government is throttling their voice, preventing communication”. Congress workers, who are showing solidarity with farmers in Mandsaur have organised a rail roko campaign at Ghatkopar Railway Station in Mumbai.